Mining crackdown: Venezuela deployed troops near Las Claritas in Bolivar State to target illegal gold mining linked to armed groups, with residents reporting explosions and gunfire. Local jobs & labour: Wales Gas-to-Energy bus drivers protested “three months, no pay,” alleging poor conditions and threats of termination. Public safety infrastructure: NPTAB awarded $329.5M to build new fire stations in Rosignol (Region 5) and Cumberland (Region 6). Air cargo growth: Cargojet Airways will launch weekly non-scheduled DHL Express cargo flights to Guyana from June 12. Sugar economics: Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said 2025 raw sugar production cost about US$1.09 per pound (inclusive of labour and maintenance). Oil & power systems: ExxonMobil defended its bid to raise Stabroek output; meanwhile GPL’s $9M Guyana National Control Centre for Wales Gas-to-Energy is set for August 2026 operations. Agriculture innovation: Guyana and Brazil/IICA launched a Caribbean agri-science STI hub, and Guyana-Dominican Republic talks aim to scale mango and avocado production. Health cooperation: Martinique says it can supply Guyana with radioactive drugs for cancer treatment. Governance spotlight: GYEITI validation begins amid transparency concerns, with civil society meeting international evaluators. Diplomacy & business: Former US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch leads a US industry delegation meeting Guyana officials on aviation, energy, water and maritime investment. Security incident: Police arrested two suspects after an engineer was robbed of $200,000 and a Samsung S22 at Parika.